Month: January 2018

I just came across the Canadian guitarist, Drew Henderson, playing the Allegro from Johann Sebastian Bach’s 2nd Violin Sonata, BWV1003. His performance is brilliant on many levels and the fact that he is playing an 8-string guitar allows him to add in bass notes that would otherwise be impossible on a standard 6-string guitar.

And, here is another magical and virtuosic performance of Joaquín Rodrigo’s Zapateado from Tres piezas Españolas. It seems that Drew does fine on a six-string, too. : )

You may enjoy playing scales as much as I do. The organizational aspect of it, the ear training, the mechanical and athletic component, and the results scale practice produces keeps them on the top of my technique practice log. All musicians know how important scale work is for their musical and technical development. So if you are in the habit of running through scales as part of your routine, one simple adjustment can help: giving your scales direction.

We augment results when musical intent is paired with technical practice. To this end, start adding simple phrasing to your scales:

Step 1

Know your scales!

Step 2

Add simple pair phrasings or groupings. Give a certain hierarchy to the groupings like tension to resolution or strong to weak. Establish that the two (or three or four…) notes are related in some way.